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Supervisors send Phase 2 of data-center planning to committee for scope refinement
Summary
The Board directed staff to forward the second phase of a countywide data-center plan'covering design, siting, sustainability and utility issues'to the Transportation and Land Use Committee for refinement before returning to the full board.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on April 15 voted unanimously to send Phase 2 of the county's data-center project to the Transportation and Land Use Committee for focused review and scope refinement.
Phase 2 scope: Staff described Phase 2 as a two-part effort: (1) a general-plan amendment (CPAM) addressing land use, site and building design, sustainability, water, energy and community impacts; and (2) zoning ordinance amendments (ZOAM) to add standards such as noise attenuation, building and site design, landscaping and buffering, accessory-use requirements and rules for utility substations and microgrids. Phase 2 follows the board's earlier Phase 1 work to review map designations and by-right allowance.
Why it matters: Data centers remain an active development type in Loudoun County. The Phase 2 work would set policy and standards affecting appearance, utility needs, noise and other environmental or infrastructure impacts. Boardmembers and staff said the item needs more focused committee-level discussion to narrow or clarify scope before the full board takes legislative action.
Board action: The board voted 9-0 to send the Phase 2 project plan to the Transportation and Land Use Committee (TLUC) with direction that the committee refine scope, schedule and cost and return a recommended plan for a future board meeting. Several supervisors said they expect the committee to remove items that are no longer needed after Phase 1 and to focus on new issues such as microgrids and substation design where policy gaps remain.
Process note: Several supervisors emphasized that the board's prior decisions restrict or alter what Phase 2 needs to cover; other supervisors asked staff to be explicit about what remains to be done and what can be dropped. The board also asked staff to present a narrowed agenda for TLUC so that the committee can return a concise proposal to the full board.
Ending: Staff said TLUC will take up the item in May and return a revised project plan with recommendations for scope, timeline and budget.
